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“I don’t know. You’re the one inviting me to a private trip to the restroom.”
She brought one hand to her collarbone, like if she were wearing pearls, she’d be clutching them. “It is not that kind of trip, you perv.”
Of course it wasn’t, but I couldn’t resist getting a rise out of her. So I went with it.
“Wouldn’t be the first time.” I shrugged.
Restaurants, the beach, the bowling alley, that one time at Six Flags. Good memories.
She glared, and I swore I could feel the pinpricks of the daggers she was mentally shooting at me. “I know exactly what you’re picturing. Stop that.” She popped up on her toes and peered over my shoulder at the bar. It was mostly empty, but her cheeks were flushed and her chest was heaving with nervous breaths.
“Look, just—” She searched the hall and then pointed toward the men’s bathroom. “Get in here.”
I regarded the metal sign emblazoned with the silhouette of a man. “I don’t know if—”
“Just get in.” Her shrill voice left little room for arguing, so I shrugged and followed her in.
The restroom was an open space with dark purple walls and dim lighting. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust. When they did, she was standing in front of me with her hands on her hips. I couldn’t make out her expression in the dark room, but the last time I’d checked, she looked pissed. It was safe to assume that hadn’t changed.
“Fancy meeting you here. Probably shouldn’t leave your date to meet up with another man, you know? Not good etiquette.”
She brought a hand to her face and growled. “Liam, I don’t know why you—”
Footsteps sounded in the hallway, causing Marigold to go ramrod straight. Neither of us spoke as they got closer. With a squeak, she frantically pushed me into one of the stalls and followed me in, then she closed and locked the door.
A door creaked open close by. Probably the women’s room across the hall.
The tiny stall didn’t allow for much space. Our chests were centimeters apart, and in her heels, Marigold was nearly as tall as me. Her breaths were coming quick, whispering across the exposed skin above my collar, sending shivers racing down my spine and heat curling in my stomach.
I wanted to run my fingers through her hair and push back the strands. I wanted to step in close so our chests were pressed together and I could really drink her in. Instead, I rounded up all my willpower and stuffed my hands in my pockets.
God, she looked so beautiful. Her makeup was heavier than usual tonight. Her eyelashes fluttered longer and her cheekbones more prominent. Her lips were tucked into this red-painted pout that looked unreal on her. She’d even put on earrings. The woman never wore earrings. She was the definition of a homebody.
“This is cozy,” I mused, scanning the walls of the stall encasing us.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, bringing those hands to her hips again.
“I’m not sure anymore. You’re the one shoving me into bathroom stalls—”
“I mean here, Liam. What are you doing here at this restaurant?”
The space felt tighter. Like the walls were closing in on us, forcing us closer. She looked so pretty…
I cleared my throat and willed myself to concentrate on her question. “I was enjoying the evening with my brothers. Then you came waltzing in dressed like you were headed to a club with a guy who can’t even bother to wear a real button-up.” I was practically growling.
She crossed her arms over her chest, and it took everything in me not to drop my gaze and ogle her. “He’s wearing a collared shirt.”
“Solid choice.”
With a stomp of her foot, she groaned. “Seriously, Liam. I haven’t been on a date in…forever, and you’re ruining it.”
Ruining it? That heat in my stomach turned into a ball of lead in an instant. How well was she hoping it would go?
Is this where we were? Me on the sidelines watching her move on? Being expected to keep my mouth shut? A man could only take so much.
“Why him?” My voice came out dry, brittle. “You can do so much better and yet you’re going out with a guy who’s nowhere near good enough for you.”
I didn’t care how jacked the man was. He wasn’t enough. No one was. Especially not me. But I could at least open her eyes a little.
